Come visit us at the Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Invitational Arts & Crafts Fair Wednesday through Saturday 8:30AM to 5PM at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
We will be introducing new designs and bringing back some of our more popular items.
Kapa Bead Bracelets – Sonny Ching Collection
When I read the editorial Editors Note: We Work With Words, But Some Challenge Us in the January 2015 issue of Hawaii Business I felt relieved. It spoke of the use of diacritical marks—the okina and kahako— in Hawaiian words.
I am always a bit nervous using those marks less I get them wrong and possibly misrepresent the meaning of a message. Since I don’t speak Hawaiian, I am only a little familiar with their use and thus have to often copy what is given to me, it’s difficult! However, in respect for the content of the message, I will do my best. That being said, please send corrections, edits or suggestions so I and others can learn and become more familiar with Hawaiian word and language.
This blog is hardly a publication but it will often speak of and with Hawaiian words. Please know that I do so with upmost respect and I am trying to get it correct to the best of my ability.
We are looking forward to another Merrie Monarch Festival, this year being held from April 5 to 11, 2015. Being back at the Festival is the highlight of our year. Seeing friends, both participants and fellow vendors, is like a huge family reunion.
We are there to sell our crafts and jewelry, but also to support all the wonderful dancers who have worked so hard in preparation for this competition. The hours spent synchronizing their dance, learning to chant their mele, and delivering and expressing their stories is mind blowing. The participants and families sacrifice so much to bring the best they can to this Event.
Paradisus will be holding “fort” in the Hilo Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Aside for the ono food sold at the snack bar inside the Civic Auditorium, and the goodies sold by local vendors outside the crafters buildings, the Poke Truck is continually on my mind, especially as the days get closer.
Paradisus will be showing new designs including the first three pieces of our Sonny Ching Laka Series. (In order from left to right, Maile, Ie’ie, Halapepe)
We will also be introducing other Paradisus designs with gold plating due to repeated requests. They are not currently on the website so come by the booth at Merrie Monarch to see the new selections.
More info coming up!
Happy New Year!
As the adage goes, where did the time go? 2015 is going to be a great year! I can feel it!
Haku Mele
First of all, our new collection called Haku Mele has come out with its first edition. In support of Hawaiian music and together with Hawaiian music composer, Steven Espaniola, Paradisus has issued it’s first bracelet in the collection.
The Hawaii born artist, now living in the Bay Area and performing in the throughout California, Hawaii and Japan is a multi-instrumental singer musician specializing in Ki Hoʻalu (Hawaiian slack key guitar), ukulele, upright bass and Leo Ki’e Ki’e (Traditional Hawaiian Falsetto).
His debut recording entitled Ho’omaka, “To Begin”, features a mesmerizing collection of traditional and original Hawaiian mele. In 2006, Steven’s musical efforts earned him the recognition of “New Artist of the Year” at the Hawaii Music Awards.
His mele “Hōkūlani” was written for his beautiful wife April Hōkūlani Espaniola. Hōkūlani means “heavenly star” and part of a lyric from this mele is engraved on the bracelet.
For more about Steven, visit his website, http://www.stevenespaniola.com/index.html, and check out his Facebook page.
The bracelet is made of engraved stainless steel with a double cord band and stainless steel clasp, the uni-sex bracelet comes in a variety of sizes. Special size can be made with advance notice.
“like ʻole koi uʻi o nā Hōkū o ka lani”
means “You are as beautiful as the stars in the Heaven.”
It’s Valentines Day Soon!
This is a truly embracing thought from one loved one to another. And a perfect gift for the up coming Valentines Day. Join us by supporting Hawaiian music and think of this as a gift for your love one.
To purchase, go to www.paradisusjewelry.com.
Hi Everyone.
There have been so many times during the months away that a bit of gossip or some great story would come up, and I’d wish I had this blog active to share on. So with some nervousness in my tummy, promises to myself that I will continue, I’ve decided that I should get back on the INSIDE PARADISUS blog again.
So first! We’ve had a little redo. With the help from the graphic team at Osaki Creative Group headed by Kurt Osaki , we’ve tweaked the graphics of our logo and name. Now that it’s all caps and no script or italic, it will be easier to read, pronounce and hopefully remember.
PARADISUS is LATIN for Paradise. And since our initial concept speaks to the beauty of our home Hawai’i, which many feel is a Paradise on earth, we feel the name is appropriate for our company.
Our logo is the fiddle head of a fern. This is a symbol of new beginnings, birth, rebirth and continued growth and rejuvenation. This is so appropriate for us as Akemi and I move forward with this company. Change and evolution is part of the life of any company. With this in mind, we continue to search for new inspiration, open ourselves to new directions, and reach for goals and challenges that we never would have seen in front of us before.
I hope you will join us in our journey of creating interesting and inspired jewelry pieces.
Aside from Jewelry, I am happy to introduce another new addition and direction to this family business. Meet Aksel Kaikea Takashi Jensen, Akemi’s new baby boy. Born on his Mothers birthday in May 2014, he is a joy for all of us.
Happy New Year! As we welcome 2015, we wish you all a joyful and healthy New Year!
If you’d like to hear some awesome ukulele music, attend the Ukulele Festival of Northern California. This year the event celebrates it’s 17th Annual. It will be held on Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 at the Chabot College / Performing Arts Center, 25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, California from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Program begins at 10:45 am. Doors open at 10:15 am. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $8.00 (by March 15th – better hurry) and $10.00 at the door there after. Children under 4 years are admitted at no charge.
This year will be the first year that Paradisus will be exhibiting and selling at the Craft Fair. We are excited about opening our market to Northern California and making new friends.
Join us if you’re in the area…..or if you would like to spend the afternoon, listening to this distinctive Hawaiian instrument.
